Teaching Guide #1
Watch and Learn from Immigrant Stories
Recommended Grade Levels: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts; Social Studies, etc.
Activity: Learning about immigrants thought taped videos about their lives.
Summary
This activity has been designed for students to learn more about life stories of firstgeneration immigrants. Immigrant narratives teach about immigration and address
many commonly held stereotypes. Green Card Voices, a non-profit organization,
provides a rich collection of immigrant experiences available through their digital library
at www.greencardvoices.org. They have recorded over 50 immigrants coming form 35
different countries and are constantly adding new stories. They edit the video narratives
down to five minutes and add personal photographs. This is a STUDENT CENTERED
ACTIVITY. We suggest that students choose and watch one - three immigrant stories
at www.greencardvoices.org/videos and fill out the WORKSHEET #1. In this lesson the
students hear stories of different immigrants, including their challenges, achievements
and contributions to the US.
Goal: Students will examine different personal stories of immigrants & explore
immigrants’ challenges as well as their achievements and contributions to the US.
Objective: After completing this lesson, student will be able to:
 Compare and contrast immigrants’ stories
 Analyze issues through personal narratives
 Reflect on personal emotions associated with moving, being an outsider, etc.
 Understand the different challenges immigrants face.
 Give suggestion on how they could make them feel welcome
 Empathize with new immigrants who encounter alienation and isolation living in
a new country
Materials:
 Internet access to www.greencardvoices.org/videos (on IPad, computer, or
smart phone).
 WORKSHEET #1
Time frame: one hour
New vocabulary and terms: N/A
Recommendations for teachers: Students vote one or two stories to be shown in
classroom.
PROCESS:
1. Activity
Students choose one - three immigrant stories and listen to them on an iPad,
iPhone or computer. They choose and watch to the immigrant stories of their
interest (whether it’s immigrant’s country or origin, occupation, gender age,
etc). Each student should fill out a WORKSHEET #1 after watching each story.
2.



Discussion and explanation
Teacher asks what they learned and writes their answers on the board.
Students share what surprised them the most?
Teacher asks students if they have ever moved or changed schools. Then
elaborates by asking them how they felt and what kind of challenges they had to
deal with. Writes answers on the board.
 Teacher asks the students to name some of the countries and occupations of the
immigrants whose stories they listened to.
 Teacher asks to share the answers from the worksheet:
o What was his/her biggest surprise when s/he came to the U.S.?
o How did s/he cope with the new environment?
o How does s/he contribute to the new homeland?
3. Recap of things learned
The class discusses the lessons learned.
Worksheet # 3
Watch and Learn from Immigrant Stories
Listen to one immigrant story of your choosing on the Green Card Voices website at the
at www.greencardvoices.org/videos. Fill in the missing information & answer the
questions:
I Listened to the story of …
(first and last name)
S/he was born in
city/country/continent:
The reason(s) s/he left the
country of origin
Education completed in the
country of origin and in the
U.S.
Who s/he left behind; who
came with to the U.S.
Current Occupation
What was his/her biggest surprise when s/he came to the U.S.?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
How did s/he cope with the new environment?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
How does s/he contribute to the new homeland?
_______________________________________________________________